web

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that users can use to send texts, images, and share locations with each other. The web version of the app has been updated to support two more popular browsers, which is good news for web users. WhatsApp now supports Firefox and Opera browsers. Previously the only supported web browser was Chrome.

Given the fast-paced development and progress that we have when it comes to the Internet and Internet-connected devices, it can almost be too hard to imagine how old the World Wide Web really is. That reality check might soon become a topic now that the Web bells have started ringing. IETF HTTP Working Group chair Mark Nottingham has just announced on his blog that HTTP/2 has been approved and is on its way to become the new standard, following HTTP/1.1 which was adopted way, way back in 1999.

In the realm of cybersecurity, balancing national security and personal privacy is undoubtedly a tough act to pull off. The Internet has long been held as the bastion of free speech, but it has also become a breeding ground and hiding place for miscreants. So it isn't surprising that law enforcers would want to penetrate all corners of the Web in order to catch the bad guys. That is exactly what DARPA's new search engine called Memex is trying to do, by diving even into the depths of the "Dark Web".

Apple surprisingly seems to be starting to open up some parts of its walled garden experience to those unfortunate enough to find themselves outside. Although it's not exactly the full Monty, which may never happen, of course, at least now some users on other platforms using other browsers will now be able to get a taste of Apple's iWork suite for the cloud, with a few caveats. And provided they agree to using beta version software that may or may not eat your homework.

Once the darling of the Web, Flash has become a liability and an embarrassment. But as much as the powers that be want and work to make Flash go the way of the dinosaur, there are still a few holdovers on the Internet that refuse, or at the very least can't, switch away from it just yet. To help ease that transition, at least from the end user side of things, Mozilla is equipping the latest nightly version of Firefox with a tool that will little by little make Flash unnecessary.

Microsoft seems to be increasing its efforts to keep its products relevant even today, when many have migrated to using web apps inside browser or tablets and smartphones. Trying to start the year right, Redmond is kicking off 2015 with tons of new features for the web-based version of its Office suite designed to keep you from feeling that you're only working inside a web app. Of course, until you realize you're shuffling files around in the cloud, particularly inside OneDrive.

Maybe because they’re trying to get in on the Etsy racket, or maybe just because they can; either way, Facebook is now making it much easier to sell things via Groups. Today, the social giant is announcing a new feature for Groups, which will allow users to sell items in a more streamlined way, with posts that are more easily manageable and professional looking. The feature was spotted previously, with Facebook saying they were trialing it for some groups who were noticed to have been actively selling anyway.

Your options for online travel booking may be dwindling. Today, Expedia has closed a $280 million to buy Travelocity from parent company Sabre. The deal was likely to happen at some point, as Expedia’s technology was already powering Travelocity’s search n the US and Canada. Expedia’s Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said “Evolving this relationship strengthens the Expedia family’s ability to continue to innovate and deliver the very best travel experiences to the widest set of travelers, all over the world”.

MAgneto, the interesting Calendar app that tried to do more than just feed you info, is shutting down. On December 23, the service will be no more, and will simply let your other calendars take over where Magneto left off. The team also notes they’ve already used Google and Exchange calendars to sync your info, so all meetings and appointments are already in place. Magneto is also offering a simple method for exporting your to-do items, if you were using it for that.

Facebook has made a concerted effort of late to be your go-to source for more than just wedding announcements and passive-aggressive complaining. Their trending topics section, typically housed on the right side of your home screen, has been a staple on the desktop. This is an increasingly mobile landscape, though, and Facebook is trying to stay relevant there, too. Now, trending topics will make their way to mobile, with the conversation being aggregated in a way that will make it easier to cut through the nonsense and get right to the gritty details.